Morning journal and courier., 1887-10-06
FOREIGN MISSION WORK

Among the MethOdIsls of the New England Branch-A Largely Attend ed ConventIon--What is Being Ac- cOmpltshed-A Successful WOrk.M ore to be Done. The eighteenth annual convention of the New England branch of the Woman's For eign Missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church was opened yesterday at Trinity M. E. church. The audience room was tastefully decorated with flowers, while beautiful basket of ferns and autumn leaves adorned the chancel table, and over the organ in white immortelles was the in scription "Welcome;;" 'fW. Ms" A short devotional meeting was held at 9:30 conduct ed by Mrs. James, corresponding secretary of the New England Southern conference branch. The body of the church was we'll filled by a large number of ladies interested in the work of the organization, including over two hun dred and fifteen delegates from the various branches ot the society, and the exercises of the day were ably conducted by Mrs. Warren of Boston, president of the New England Branch. The Rev. Dr. Reed of Trinity M. E. church spoke a few words of welcome, followed by the Rev. Mrs. Isaac Foster, who in behalf of the churches and auxiliaries extended to the delegates cor dial welcome to the city and homes of New Haven Mrs. Geo. Martin, of Providence, in
 
 rendered thanks for the hospitality extended.
 The records of the last annual meeting, held at Lowell, Mass, were then read by Miss 0. A. Richardson of Maiden, Mass, re- cording secretary.
 The treasurer's report was submitted and read by Mrs. Odell, Mrs. J. McGee, the treasurer of the society, being detained at home by illness in the family.
 The receipts for the current year were re- ported to have been as follows:
 Balance October 1, 1ss6. .........$ 5,671 o3 From auxiliaries. %O21330 Legaces .'-'''-' 'soo 1 Disbursements, printing and other -. Balance @ on hand October l. 1s67.. s,4so B
 .se8, b55 %
 The corresponding secretary, Mrs. M. P. Alderman of Hyde Park, Mass, then sub nitted the secretary's report. A few extracts follow showing broadening of the work all along the line. There are eleven missionaries now in the field, and three will be ready to send out the coming year. At tie annual meeting the society authorized the sum of 1000 in appropriations for 1887; The amount was exceeded by $291. In India this branch supports three missionaries, SIX assist ants, eighty-two Bible women, sixty seven girls in boarding schools, three students in medical college and forty-two day schools. In China we support two missionaries, dis pensary assistant, three day schools and share in the boarding school at Pekin.
 In Japan the work is developing with won derful rapidity. Mission work of great in- terest is also reported in Bulgaria, Italy, Mexico and Central America.
 The report of the nominating committee was submitted, and the ladies whose names were proposed as officers for the ensuing year were unanimously elected by ballot.
 The audience then listened to 8 most in- teresting map address on Africa by Mrs. s. G. Steele of Wi1braham, Mass. South Africa has been the scene of missionary labors for being the first to enter South Afri- ca in the person of George Smith. Among those who have done grand work in South Africa must be mentioned the Rev. MT. Moffatt, who met at first with de- termined hostility on the part of the natives.
 In 1842 MT. Moffatt went to England, and it was by his representations that David Liv- ingstone first went to Africa, whose 1abors were at first purely missionary, but the spir- it of exploration seizing him he penetrated far into the unknown regions of the north. His ambition was not that of Q curious trav- eler but his constant motive and hope was the suppression of the slave trade, which he called the open sore of the world.
 The Germans. French, English, Americans and Swedes are all represented in the mis- sionary field of South Africa. The American board opened their work in 1884 among the Zulus and met with great success. Mrs. Steele closed with an earnest appeal for Afri- ca, fifteen million of whose people were brought to this continent by the infamous slave trade and to whom we ought in simple justice to carry the gospel.
 DoINGs AT THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
 The afternoon session was opened by prayer offered by Mrs. Bullens, of Spring field.
 The early part of ths session was devoted to the normal exercises and was cond ucted by Mrs. Thompson, of New Haven. The following subjects came up for considers tion:
 How much of the higher culture of the schools is necessary for 8 missionary candi datea95 a5s-z@S#
 What are the duties of the uanagers in our auxiliaries2
 What is the best way to conduct a mission circle9 What is the best way to keep up the mem- bership of 8 society,"
 What can be done to increase the eircula- tion of the Heather Women's Friendf
 Ia Ksspenss to request 3Ks. Nudge gave ]